Thanksgiving passed and you think you’re in the clear. Think again. December brings a whole other round of entertaining, family meals and all…those…dishes. I had more than 30 people over for Thanksgiving and I’m not entirely sure that I have fully recovered from that experience! But, big holiday meals in my family mean big laughs, great stories and a time I treasure to catch up with the ones I love. So, I am sure excited for what’s right around the corner. ‘Tis the Season!

I recently chatted with Christina Stanley-Salerno, a recipe developer and founder of the family food website TakeBackYourTable.com that recently partnered with Samsung Home Appliances for a program called, “Make Your House Work for the Holidays.” Check out our chat on Mom Talk Radio . We talked about Christina’s Thanksgiving experience and she shared tips and tricks on how you can make the holidays run smoother. See some of her key points about how you can plan in advance, prep for your meals and cleaning tips:

Don’t wait until the last minute to do your grocery shopping before a big holiday. Last minute shopping means packed stores, crowded parking lots and fighting with other procrastinators over the last ham. Give yourself plenty of time to stock up on what you need so you can stay calm and focus on the big day. Save even more time in the grocery store by and group your grocery list by aisle. Organizing your list by category (ex: Meat/Poultry, Bread, Dairy, Produce, etc….) will ensure that you are in and out of the store in a timely and organized manor.

Prepare your table in advance. The day before the feast, download the place setting guide via the Samsung Make Your House Work for the Holidays hub and set the table a day in advance so you aren’t rushing around on the big day.

Delegate, delegate, delegate. Just because you are hosting doesn’t mean you have to be the one who cooks all of the courses. Ask a guest to bring an appetizer, a salad or a dessert. They will be thrilled to contribute and that’s one less thing for you to prepare.

Timing is key. A recent survey commissioned by Samsung and Harris Interactive found that 21% of people said their biggest Thanksgiving regret was not having their meal and sides timed correctly. So if you’re in the market for a new oven to combat this issue, be sure to check out the Samsung Flex Duo Oven. It provides cooks with the option of preparing two dishes at two different temperatures, from one large capacity oven. That means you can have a pumpkin pie on top and a roast on the bottom with no mixing of aromas.

For mouthwatering dish inspiration, click here to check out some of Christina’s go-to holiday recipes – whether it’s brunch, dinner, appetizers or desserts, these fun and easy recipes will make any holiday meal that much more festive!

Visit the Samsung Home Appliance Facebook page for more planning, cooking and cleaning tips and tricks this season. Also, you can enter for a chance to win a suite of kitchen appliances, just in time for the holidays!

This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Samsung Home Appliances.